Computer for home - moving up to high school

[Littlemountainhum]

My son (age 9, year 5) is desperate for a computer at home so he can write stories and practice his touch typing (he’s dyslexic). We have iPads at home but he’s not keen on typing on that or using his little wireless keyboard. I’m keen to encourage his typing and to get him trying things like coding as think he might be that way inclined (he likes Scratch on the iPad).

His school use chrome books so he wants one as that’s what he knows, but from a quick read online I’m not sure I want one for home as they can be a bit basic and low memory etc?

I’m not sure yet which high school he’ll be going to and what they will use - whether he’ll possibly need something compatible with whatever systems/homework apps they use?

We’re an Apple family so i would lean towards holding off a bit and investing in a MacBook/Apple Mac for the family once he’s in high school if it was my choice, but I’m not sure if that will make it a pain for compatibility with schools as I guess they’d more likely use Microsoft/Google things?

Also not sure about laptop vs desktop - do high schoolers go to the library after school to do homework on a laptop these days?

Any thoughts/experiences of what kids need in high school please?

We have both laptop and a PC, so they can all do homework at the same time. Laptop is useful for brining if homework to anther room to get help, or taking it to do homework if we go to my parent’s. Eldest did photography GCSE so a pc was better to run the editing software etc.

We found we had to get a printer with an ink subscription plan as the amount of printing they are expected to do is ridiculous. I’ve no idea how those without printers are managing as school only allow you to print a very low number of pages a term. Nowhere near enough to cover the amount needed. Often having to print entire exam paper over 20 pages a time.

Oh gosh I never even thought about a printer too. Thank you, really helpful. Did you go Microsoft/google/apple for your laptop/PC?

Apple is unlikely to be the way forward as almost all schools have declared for either Microsoft or Google and he will want a compatible device.

I'd buy him a super cheap 'burner' Chromebook right now and then wait until you've chosen a secondary school and found out what they use to buy something better.

Depends on the school IME.

All school work is submitted online here, usually in word/pdf format, or via online systems, so Mac/Pc would make no difference.

Occasionally they ask the kids to download apps on their phones, but they are both android/iOS compatible.

For ks3 there's been no need to take laptop out and about, so either laptop or desktop would be fine. We tend to keep computers downstairs in communal areas (to keep an eye on internet activity etc), so either works for us.

Thank you, all really helpful! I wondered about internet use/not having something in his bedroom too, as he’s fairly amenable to switching things off when told now but I can see that changing into teen years!

My daughters school use chromebooks. Before she started in year 7 all parents were encouraged to sign up for a chromebook with the school. I think we pay £12 a month for 2 years. It means everyone has the same and the children are expected to bring their Chromebook to every lesson and all homework is done on there too. I think there is a subsidies for children from disadvantaged homes.

Have a very dyslexic DD in Y9 who has been touch typing and only using tech since Y6.

She had an HP laptop in Y7, but found it didn't really work for her. She switched in Y8 to an iPad with keyboard (the ones built into the cases) and an e-pen.

You can run Teams on it, you can install Office 365, it weighs less than a laptop and the camera function means you can photograph the board and graphs, worksheets etc and then work on them with the e-pen. It was a lot cheaper than a laptop as well.

All her school stuff is on apps or online these days - homework app, class WhatsApp, Memrise, Hegarty Maths etc. She doesn't really do anything on paper at all. Everything is stored in iCloud so it doesn't go missing either!

Several schools by us (both state and private) now require pupils to have a Chromebook or Microsoft Surface purchased through the school. I honestly wouldn’t buy anything until you know where he is going as you could be buying two computers in two years.

Thanks everyone, I think putting it off a purchase til high school seems the best option for now.